Beloved CBA educator dies

"Brother Al" Myers, 80, had deep dedication lasting into later years

SCOTT WALDMAN Staff write, Times Union

By SCOTT WALDMAN Staff writer

Updated 7:08 am, Friday, May 13, 2011

CBA players Joshua Dennis, left, and Zach Zaloga, 34, right, escort Brother Aloysius Myers to the court to join a team group picture as they celebrate their Class AA state basketball championship game victory over Half Hallow Hills West, 71-53, at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, NY, on Sunday, March 21, 2010. The team held up the picture so that the Brother could join them. Brother Aloysius died this week. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union) High School Sports

Brother Aloysius Myers, an educator at the Christian Brothers Academy for 52 years, died Thursday at 80. "Brother Al" was more than a teacher, principal and guidance counselor; he was the living embodiment of the school.

Brother Al parked his scooter at the entrance to the school every morning to give high-fives and hugs to the students entering. He parked it on the basketball court, at the end of the bench, and popped Jolly Ranchers into his mouth as he watched the court. He was also there to give varsity basketball coach David Domel a little poke every time he heard a curse word.

Myers noticed when a young man took the game hard. If he missed a shot and blamed himself for a loss, his phone would ring that night, said Domel, a 1971 graduate of the school guided into teaching by Myers. Brother Al would tell him not to worry.

"He believed in taking care of kids, especially kids that weren't the most perfect, or most exceptional," Domel said. "He cared about them the most."

Myers was born John Francis Myers in Manchester, N.H., on Aug. 16, 1930. He grew up on a farm and completed his novitiate years of studies in 1949. He received the name Brother Aloysius Urban that year. He earned a bachelor's degree in education and political science from Manhattan College in 1951.

Myers started as a teacher at CBA in 1952, and became principal of the junior high school, where he remained until 1969. He was transferred to Trinity High School until 1974, when he returned to the guidance office at CBA after a heart condition took him out of the classroom.

Brother Al had a way of making young people feel at ease, said Jackson Raimo, a junior. Raimo, 17, said Myers would be there at all of his baseball games, rain or shine, and in a poncho, if necessary. Seeing that level of dedication made an impression on the young man, who gave him a hug every day when he came to school.

"He had a way with the kids," Raimo said. "You can't not like Brother Al."

Principal James Schlegel called Brother Al the most influential person in the school. He was a daily presence, someone teenage boys never felt awkward hugging. He took on virtually every role over the years and could even be found cutting the grass on a riding mower when he was a younger man, the principal said.

Few educators, no matter their attachment to a school, have invested so much of themselves, Schlegel said. Myers dedicated himself to CBA as soon as he arrived, Schlegel said.